Tag: Chris McIntosh

Deputy Athletic Director Chris McIntosh, who captained Wisconsin's back-to-back Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions in 1998 and 1999, speaks to several thousand Badgers fans gathered for a pep rally outside LA Live on Dec. 30, 2019, in Los Angeles. The 8th-ranked Badgers faced 6th-ranked Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 2020. MJS-rosebowl01p3

Wisconsin promotes alum Chris McIntosh to athletic director

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wisconsin will introduce Chris McIntosh, a former Badgers football player, as athletic director on Wednesday. He succeeds Barry Alvarez, who is retiring June 30 after 18 seasons.

McIntosh, 44, has worked in the Wisconsin athletic department since 2014 and as deputy athletic director since 2017, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department, student-athlete recruitment, business development, human resources and strategic planning.

“Chris is a natural leader who loves the Badgers and cares about our student-athletes,” chancellor Rebecca Blank said. “He is uniquely positioned to continue our proud traditions of success on and off the field and doing things ‘the right way.’ Chris will build upon those traditions and has a strong vision for leading the program during a time of change in college athletics.”

A Wisconsin native, McIntosh played football at Pewaukee High School before enrolling at Wisconsin in 1996. He played four seasons on the offensive line and was a team captain and a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 1999. He was a member of the Badgers teams that won the Rose Bowl in 1999 and 2000 and was inducted in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Seattle Seahawks selected him No. 22 overall in the 2000 draft, but injuries limited him to just 24 NFL games. He retired after the 2002 season.

“I owe so much to the University of Wisconsin, and I’m deeply honored to be able to succeed Barry Alvarez,” McIntosh said. “We will build upon our legacy of success on the field of competition and support our student-athletes in the classroom, on campus and after college.”

His promotion was praised, even by opponents.

“Chris is an excellent hire and is uniquely prepared to lead the University of Wisconsin Athletic department,” said Gene Smith, who has served as athletic director at Ohio State since 2005.

“He has the highest of integrity, knows the culture of Badger athletics, is respected by his peers in the Big Ten Conference and will bring the former student-athlete experience to his leadership style, which I feel is invaluable.”

–Field Level Media